Mike Taylor will not return for a third season as head coach of the Maine Red Claws.
No replacement has been named for the NBA Development League franchise, the sole affiliate of the Boston Celtics, who are responsible for all player and coaching personnel moves.
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“I’m not entirely sure when we will find out about a new coach,” said Red Claws spokesman Will McClaran. “From watching teams, it’s usually sometime in August or September.”
The Red Claws went 19-31 under Taylor last winter to finish fourth in their division and failed to make the playoffs. In his first season, they placed third at 26-24 and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, losing in the first round.
The Celtics declined to comment on the coaching change. Team spokesman Brian Olive said only one of the two Red Claws assistants will return. Ronald Nored, a former Butler point guard who played for Celtics Coach Brad Stevens while in college, will be assigned a new position within the organization. Tunde Adekola will not return for a third season.
Taylor came to Maine after working as the top assistant coach for Rio Grande of the D-League. He is currently coaching the Polish men’s national team. In three summers before joining the Red Claws, he coached with the Czech Republic national team. Last summer he assisted with Boston’s entry in the NBA Summer League in Orlando.
“On both a personal and professional level, we loved having Mike as our coach,” said Red Claws owner and chairman Bill Ryan Jr., in a statement. “Mike’s passion for the game of basketball and his relentless positivity shone through to our players and fans. We wish him great success.”
Taylor, 41, was Maine’s third coach in five seasons. He succeeded Dave Leitao, who did not return after a 21-29 record in 2011-12. The first Red Claws coach, Austin Ainge, went 27-23 and 18-32, placing fourth and fifth. He currently is the Celtics’ director of player personnel.
The Celtics’ training camp will begin in early October, with the Red Claws starting their own camp a month later in Portland.
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